Here are seven key stories on outpatient spine trends and news.
Spine procedures in ASCs: Experts talk obstacles, hospital partnerships and reimbursement
Jeffrey Simmons, chief development officer of Westchester, Ill.-based Regent Surgical Health, and Pierce Nunley, MD, director of the Spine Institute of Louisiana in Shreveport, discussed spine cases in the ASC setting during a panel moderated by Bart Walker, partner with McGuireWoods. Read about their discussion here.
Trends in spine, orthopedics and ASCs over the next 5 years
Orthopedic and spine surgeons around the country are beginning to perform outpatient procedures, including total joints and spinal fusions, and providers can perform many of these procedures in an ASC. Read the discussion here.
Hospital-ASC joint ventures for spine and orthopedics: An evolving relationship
Various forces in the industry — each with their own challenges — are pushing hospitals and spine- and orthopedics-focused ASCs together, but such relationships can be a win for all parties involved. Kevin Fleming, vice president of musculoskeletal clinical portfolio for Providence Health & Services in Renton, Wash.; Don Phalen, vice president of business development with Regent Surgical Health; Jeffrey Péo, chief development officer with Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America; and Deepak Chavda, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with Texas Bone & Joint Center in North Richland Hills, shared their thoughts, here.
Keys for successful relationships between orthopedic, spine practices and their ASCs
Business aside, the keys to fostering strong, symbiotic relationships between specialty practices and their ASCs include the same basic tenets of any positive relationship. Michael J. Chmell, MD, medical director of the OrthoIllinois Surgery Center in Rockford, and Chris Bishop, president of Westchester, Ill.-based Regent Surgical Health, discussed the importance of communication, coordination and team building in the development and maintenance of strong relationships between ASCs and orthopedic and spine practices. Read more here.
Orthopedics is in a prime position to align with strategic healthcare goals — Here's how
Surgical Directions President Jeff Peters explained why orthopedics is in the "best position to succeed because despite pressures, orthopedics has the best opportunities to align with healthcare industry goals." Read more here.
5 findings about lumbar spine surgery in ASCs: Does a new pedicle screw measure up?
A new study published in Clinical Spine Surgery compares midline cortical bone trajectory pedicle screws and traditional pedicle screws for spine surgery in ASCs. The patients who underwent outpatient spine surgery with the CBT pedicle screws reported significant improvement in visual analog scale back pain scores, from 7.8 to 2.5. The Oswestry Disability Index scores for the outpatient surgery group demonstrated significant improvement. The study authors concluded surgery with CBT screws in the outpatient setting is successful.
SpineCenterAtlanta & Affiliates promotes Tim Marlow to CEO
SpineCenterAtlanta & Affiliates named former COO and Director of Rehabilitation Tim Marlow the new CEO. SpineCenterAtlanta & Affiliates encompasses a surgical center, MRI, physical therapy, massage therapy and more.